The pop star Billie Eilish recently talked about her experience of having Tourette’s syndrome and the barriers she faced. A recent study by Dr Melina Malli, Dr Paraskevi Triantafyllopoulou from the Tizard Centre, and Prof Rachel Forrester-Jones (University of Bath) looked at what it is like to be diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome and how it may affect people’s lives.
The study suggests that although some people with Tourette’s thrive in their lives, others face many difficulties in employment and social relationships. Most people in the study felt that Tourette’s syndrome held them back from achieving their life goals and dreams. They also asserted that their condition was highly stigmatised and they felt the need to conceal their tics. Having a pop star proudly admit that she has the condition and raising awareness about it may be a first step to fighting the stigma attached to Tourette’s syndrome. It might even help people derive some pride from their diagnosis and show that there is hope for people with Tourette’s to fulfil their dreams, just like Billie Eilish.
To read the full article and watch a related video clip: https://theconversation.com/billie-eilish-and-tourettes-our-new-study-reveals-what-its-really-like-to-live-with-the-condition-119570